Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update
Encyclopedia
Weekend Update
has been a platform for Saturday Night Live characters
to grow and gain popularity ever since Gilda Radner
used it to create Emily Litella and Roseanne Roseannadanna
. Many cast members have used Update as the primary vehicle for a certain character. Don Novello
was featured almost exclusively on the news segment as his breakout character, Father Guido Sarducci
, and Tim Kazurinsky
, in the face of Eddie Murphy
's overshadowing popularity, created characters almost exclusively for Update. Before becoming an anchor on Update, Colin Quinn
used the segment as his main sounding board as well.
Significant characters who appeared chiefly on Weekend Update are listed here in chronological order of their first appearance on the show. Each character's write-up is followed by a list of episodes in which they appeared. The episodes also denote who the SNL news anchor was at the time (if there is no anchor listed, it was the same as the previous listing). Some Update characters don't appear here because they fit better into one of the other categories listed below.
Character lists: Alphabetical
and Chronological
Character categories:
in the late 1970s. She would frequently rant about topics about which she had misread or misheard, such as "Violins on Television," "Canker Research," "Endangered Feces," or "Presidential Erections." (To satisfy the censors at the time, Litella was made to explicitly state that she was referring to erecting statues of presidents.) Her catchphrase was "Never mind!", said after she was informed of her mistake.
, as a commentator on Weekend Update from 1977 to 1980. She was a brash New Yorker with a thick Brooklyn accent who would read a letter asking a series of questions, almost always by "Richard Feder of Fort Lee, New Jersey" (Fort Lee being the site of an NBC studio). While answering the questions, she would go off on a disgusting tangent—usually relating a story of seeing a celebrity doing something disgusting, or a mundane topic, such as relating a story of a hair she found on a bar of soap—and have to be halted by anchor Jane Curtin
.
, Lester represented (as correspondent Laraine Newman
put it) "the plight of the modern coal
miner". He appeared only twice.
in the 1970s who worked as a gossip columnist and rock critic for L'Osservatore Romano
, a Vatican newspaper.
He appeared on a number of TV shows, albums, and cartoons outside of Saturday Night Live, and also made newspaper headlines when he visited Vatican City wearing his full outfit and taking photos. Novello was arrested and charged with "impersonating a priest", but the charges were later dropped. The character first appeared in the 1970s on The Danny Finkleman
Show on CBC Radio
.
, was the Weekend Update sports correspondent. A retired Hispanic
ballplayer with limited command of the English language, he wrote the tell-all book Bad Stuff 'Bout the Mets
(sample: "Tom Seaver
- he once borrow Chico's soap and no give it back"). In spring training of 1979, Chico's unsuccessful comeback attempt was documented on several Update segments. The character was first introduced in a St. Mickey's Knights of Columbus sketch, but subsequently Escuela appeared solely on Update.
Typically he would be introduced by Jane Curtin, thus compelling him to say, "Thank you, Hane!" Soon would follow his standard catchphrase: "Beisbol been bery, bery good to me!" Sammy Sosa
, at the peak of his stardom in the late 1990s, would sometimes repeat that line as a joke, to the media, albeit in his true-to-life strong Hispanic accent.
, succeeded Chico Escuela as Weekend Update's sports commentator. He was prone to speaking very fast and in a gruff voice.
in a series of appearances on SNL Newsbreak or Saturday Night News (the monikers for Weekend Update during the Ebersol
years). The doctor would inform the audience about different strains of diseases like influenza
or rabies
, and each strain would be a rhyming pun (i.e. "Should you be bitten by an ownerless dog, that’s Straybies, and a foaming French poodle can give you Qu’est-ce Que-C’estbies"). Badofsky stuttered in a timid, wavering tone, suggesting the sort of "ultra uptight" and extremely introverted character he was supposed to be, when thrust into the spotlight. There is, indeed, a real Jack Badofsky. He collaborated
with Kazurinsky in writing the sketches and—as a nod to Badofsky—Kazurinsky named the character after him.. At the time, Badofsky headed up
Smith, Badofsky & Raffel, a Chicago ad agency known for Badofsky's humorous radio commercials. Badofsky also has written many essays and humor for newspapers and magazines as well a material performed on the stage and TV.
, commented on the Irish-American news. Though she was a recurring character, she appeared on "Saturday Night News" only once. During the 1991-92 season, SNL would have featured players by the names of Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill
.
.
. At times, he would imitate the warbly sound of an incorrectly threaded film projector.
. He was an uptight gentleman who wore a bow-tie and glasses. The character was based on the head NBC censor at the time, Bill Clotworthy.
. He often appeared on "Saturday Night News" with ideas to clean up New York City
.
. He was prone to commenting on his disrespectful family while doing various commentaries. He also coughed and cleared his throat frequently, due to an apparent excess of phlegm. One of his most memorable insults was: "I have coughed up things that were more interesting than you!"
lounge comedian played by Billy Crystal
. This is a rare example of a little known character spinning off into a feature film. Although Buddy Young, Jr. appeared only four times on SNL, he was the principal character in the 1992 film, Mr. Saturday Night
.
. A shady lawyer, Thurm was a chain-smoker (often letting his cigarette burn to the point of becoming mostly ashes), quite paranoid, and constantly in denial about his paranoia. "I'm not being defensive. You're the one who's being defensive." When questioned, his response often included, "It's so funny to me that you would think..." He would also look into the camera and express his puzzlement at the questioner by asking, "Is it me, or is it him? It's him, right?" Other times, he would deny an accusation, then immediately reverse his position when the accuser reaffirmed the statement. "No, it isn't!" ("Yes it is.") "I know that! Why wouldn't I know that? I'm well aware of that!"
Perhaps the best known appearance of Thurm was in a 1984
SNL sketch that was a send-up of 60 Minutes
. Harry Shearer
played Mike Wallace
, accusing Thurm of being involved in corporate corruption. Thurm of course denied everything and nervously tried to turn the tables on Wallace.
Thurm was later reprised on Martin Short's short-lived talk show in 1999-2000.
, often appearing on Weekend Update segments to share his farcical views. The character's name was Tommy Flanagan (icon, , not to be confused with the jazz pianist
), and he would tell outrageous whoppers in an effort to make himself seem important (such as his claim that he invented Rock and Roll
). One recurring lie was claiming he was married to Morgan Fairchild
, and thus had seen her naked, "more than once." His devious look, hand rubbing and nervous speech made it clear he was making up lies, one after the other, on the spot. After a particularly outrageous lie he would often add the catchphrase: "Yeahhh! That's the ticket!"
One of his biggest lies, however, would in fact work to his great advantage. During the cold opening when Jerry Hall
hosted, Flanagan claimed to be an old friend of her then-boyfriend Mick Jagger
; when Jagger himself entered moments later, he shocked her by revealing that the two were longtime friends, and had actually spent the previous weekend together (when she had no idea of his whereabouts) on a fishing trip - as he and Hall get up to leave, Jagger tells Flanagan "I owe you for this one" before opening the show.
, he was originally an advertising executive (named Phil Maloney) who used subliminal messages to influence people. His appearances on Update utilized the subliminal technique (i.e. saying things rapidly and under his breath, in between sentences) to reveal what he is really thinking. For example, in an editorial on the 1994 caning
of Michael Fay
, he stated that:
, he was an embittered archetypical grandfather figure with white hair, glasses, and a sour sneer. He would usually appear as a commentator complaining about the state of the world, mainly in regard to many modern conveniences. His complaints always included differences between today and "his day" ("In my day, we didn't have safety standards for toys. We got rusty nails and big bags of broken glass! And that's the way it was, and we liked it! We loved it!" or, "In my day we didn't have condoms; you just took a rabbit-skin, wrapped it around your privates, and tied it on with a bungee cord
! And we used the same one, over and over again! And that's how it was, and you liked it! You loved it!").
, he spoke in a high-pitched nasal voice and did annoying things in front of Weekend Updates Dennis Miller
, such as chewing with his mouth open, or scratching a fork across a slate chalkboard. These sketches often ended with Lovitz saying something in a calm, cultured, refined tone, i.e., "You don't have to yell," or "I love you."
, was an Afrocentric social critic who dressed in African garb, observed Kwanzaa
, and made commentaries on race. She had a somewhat disdainful persona, such as when she observed about Michael Jackson
: "'Black or White'? If it doesn’t matter, then why are you so white?", or when she commented that Kwanzaa "is a Swahili
word which means 'Santa don’t come to my house'".
, she was portrayed by Melanie Hutsell
. She would usually begin a commentary on a subject, which devolved into a comparison to something that happened on one of the Brady Bunch episodes and her frustration with her siblings who get more attention. Her catchphrase was "Marcia, Marcia, MARCIA!", referring to her older sister, as well as a catchphrase from the popular TV series.
portrayed a man from Cajun
country in Louisiana
who dressed like Huckleberry Finn
and spoke in a heavily exaggerated Cajun French
dialect. When interviewed he would simply respond with one or two word answers, all ending in the "-tion" suffix, or similar sound. For example, when asked where his girlfriend is, he would answer "long vacation
" and then being asked how he occupies his time, would answer "masturbation
." The character is essentially a send-up of TV chef Justin Wilson
who specialized in Cajun cuisine
, and would frequently enunciate the second syllable in the word "onion".
Later, Sandler would tweak the character and give him a full length movie in The Waterboy
.
portraying a stereotypical opera singer, singing news stories in a faux-foreign language (to which the words appeared in subtitles).
A few of his well-known verses include:
The earlier appearances of Opera Man featured him singing a higher quantity of accurate Italian lyrics, though the subtitles showed the lyrics rather than an English translation. Jon Lovitz
showed up in one episode to play his older brother just in from Italy
. Opera Man also appeared in his own sketch one time where it was done up like a genuine opera, and titled "One Match Short of the Jackpot". Phil Hartman narrates, explaining to the audience that Opera Man has just filled up his car at a gas station and included a New Hampshire Lottery
scratch ticket with his purchase. Opera Man gets more excited as every box he scratches off reveal a million dollar prize, until the last one mismatches and he dejectedly says he must continue his job as a security guard
for Montgomery Ward
.
Opera Man also performed at the 2001 Concert for New York City
.
who provided the "Moron's Perspective". He appeared to be an average commentator, but his speech was indicative that he was extremely slow, and that he clearly had a difficulty discerning fantasy from reality. In one appearance, he commented on President Bill Clinton
's State of the Union Address
, complaining that his overly long speech pre-empted other shows like Jake and the Fat Man, making actor William Conrad
wait nervously backstage as the President "rambled on". His appearance was supplemented by an extremely slow scrawling of his signature across the screen.
. In each appearance, Brauer provided commentary for Kevin Nealon
's Weekend Update, vividly describing his poor hygiene, his lack of social grace, and his anger towards the viewers for preferring other photogenic
commentators to him. Brauer would make regular use of air quotes
to emphasize every point he made. For example:
In one instance, Brauer was made to fly (via cables), although a technical glitch delayed the ascent, thereby creating one of SNL's most famous blooper
s. As Kevin Nealon tries to get the cables untangled, Brauer exclaims, "I have a weight problem! Can't they lift me?" Brauer is then lifted high above a cheering audience in a manner akin to Peter Pan
. Kevin Nealon then continues the Weekend Update and the closing music is playing when a loud crash is heard. The cable has broken and a disheveled Bennett emerges from the counter; which has been damaged by his fall.
) and Fagan (David Koechner
) appeared in several episodes during the SNL 1995-1996 seasons. The characters first appeared on Weekend Update as the presidents of the Norm Macdonald
fanclub, but later appeared in several other sketches, namely monologues. The Fops would appear in late Restoration period clothing, and used a silly take on the period's language, mannerisms, and culture, not sparing the subsequent perversion also known for the time.
. A blue collar worker by trade, Blow came onto Weekend Update as a New York public service to deliver local news from Brooklyn, New York. Most of his "news" included family problems and neighborhood gossip. Joe Blow regularly concluded his commentary by asking anchor Norm Macdonald
if he would join him for "a beer
", which Macdonald (who clearly did not want to socialize with him) would avoid by making up an excuse, or putting it off until a later date.
, Lenny the Lion (Colin Quinn
in a lion suit) would come onto Weekend Update to talk about the plight of the animals, all of which had parallel problems to real life issues going on in The Bronx. Lenny would always end his rant with the line "Fur is murder".
. Played by David Koechner
, he was supposed to be the funnier of the two Macdonald brothers, but would be overcome by fear and freeze on camera and end nearly everything he said with "no". Because of this, his commentary consisted of choppy, nervously delivered lines such as, "Hey, Janet Reno
. Hey, how does that song go, '(Dude) Looks Like A Lady,' no."
, Calhoun was an activist, feminist singer who played at the Lilith Fair
festival. In one episode, she is introduced as the warm-up act for the festival. Ultra-politically correct
, she would go out of her way to pronounce ethnic-named cities in their native dialect and would frequently dedicate her songs to activist causes. On a Christmas episode she sang a song called "Christmas Chainsaw Massacre", referring to the "senseless cutting down of innocent trees for our twisted holiday pleasure". She also performed the anti-Thanksgiving
song "Basted in Blood" in a duet with Sarah McLachlan
, referencing in her introduction as being inspired by Fiona Apple
's criticism of Butterball
Turkey for having a 1-800 number for Turkey recipes. She professed her love for Garth Brooks
in a song entitled "Adonis in Blue Jeans" when he hosted the show.
, is the building super at 1901 Burnside Avenue in The Bronx
. On Weekend Update in 1998 he attempted to sell Colin Quinn the signed 62nd home run ball of his fellow countryman Sammy Sosa
for a million dollars, even though it was later discovered to be a foul ball hit by Gary Gaetti
and signed Dominican Lou.
He also did the weather report on Good Morning, Bronx.
, Olsen recapped the night's news in the style of a lead singer in a Heavy metal
band.
character who suffered from 'Voice Immodulation Syndrome', a disease which makes him unable to control the volume or inflection of his voice. Jacob begins each segment by reporting on a news item totally unrelated to Voice Immodulation Syndrome, but inevitably gets interrupted by the Weekend Update anchor, who can't stand his loud, relentless monotone. Silj then begins to educate the anchor on Voice Immodulation Syndrome, and describe situations that make the disease particularly unbearable (like praying in church, or soothing a baby to sleep). Depending on which of Silj's segments you believe, the disease affects either 700 or 6 people each year and is apparently caused by a late birth and exposure to gold dust.
, Jasper Hahn was touted as an illustrator for children's books. During his appearance, he would begin drawing what would initially be perceived as something phallic. Colin Quinn
, and later Jimmy Fallon
, would bristle and try to stop him, but the drawing would usually end up as a moose or other animal with a phallic-shaped nose or proboscis.
played by Molly Shannon
. At the end of each bit, Jeannie Darcy would use the catchphrase: "Don't get me started, don't even get me started."
) was a character loosely based on a theory described in German historian Lothar Machtan
's book The Hidden Hitler
, which attempts to prove that Adolf Hitler
was a homosexual. The flamboyant Hitler character was known for the catchphrase "Sprechen sie dick
?" Gay Hitler was the author of the fictional autobiography Mein Boyfriend, a satire
of Hitler's actual autobiography Mein Kampf
. Gay Hitler also appeared as Speed Skating Hitler, rendering the Sieg Heil salute repeatedly as he skated in place.
A scene in the film Step Brothers
shows fellow SNL cast member Will Ferrel dressed as Nazi asking the antagonist "Sprechen sie dick?".
between 2001 and 2003. Her eyes are always squinted shut and she has shoulder-length blonde hair, and often a bared midriff.
Drunk Girl tends to do certain things while drunk:
played by Fred Armisen
. A Venezuela
n nightclub comedian, he premiered in the October 5, 2002 episode in Weekend Update
. He has appeared on SNL seven times so far, most notably on ¡Show Biz Grande Explosion!, a sketch vehicle launched to feature his character. Prior to this, he appeared on an episode of Late World with Zach
.
) has made eleven appearances between 2002 and 2008, ten of which were on Weekend Update
. Calhoun is a soft-spoken political candidate with slicked back hair, a slight Southern drawl, and many unconventional ideas. Calhoun is also a career criminal with many arrests, which he often inadvertently mentions. Constantly nervous and fidgety, Calhoun reads his speeches from index cards which he stacks neatly on the table as he finishes each one. Usually, the final word in his statements are on a separate card. His voice is exaggeratedly slow and deliberate, hardly rising above a whisper. When talking, he moves his extended index and middle fingers up and down.
An Independent
, he first appeared on Weekend Update under the equal-time rule
when John McCain
hosted.
) and his brother Patrick (Will Forte
) appear as experts from an impressive institution or think-tank. Called on to discuss or debate complex topics (such as tax codes or immigration), they tell the audience that they will present their information in a song, so the nuances can be better absorbed. However, their songs, while snappy and possessing humorous two-part harmonies in counterpoint, are repetitive, usually contain nothing but nonsense lyrics, and impart no information whatsoever.
On the May 6, 2006 show with Tom Hanks
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
, the Kelly brothers appeared on Weekend Update for a debate which turned out to be them simply singing, "Ya." Patrick sang in an exaggeratedly high tone.
) is a Native American
comedian who has performed stand-up
on three Weekend Update
episodes and made a small appearance in Liam Neeson
's monologue in 2004. His jokes usually begin as fairly average stand-up jokes (why did the chicken cross the road?), but his punchlines suddenly veer into obscure references to Native American culture. This of course results only in confusion and nervous titters from the audience, at which point Billy Smith patiently explains the cultural reference so that the audience can understand the joke.
and Adam Sandler
, would appear with the intention of presenting a standard news item, such as a weather report or a restaurant review. Dressed in matching sunglasses and leather vests, they start their reports with incoherent religious rants. Anchorman Norm Macdonald
would try to steer them back onto the subject they had come on to report, with limited success. Chris Farley
once appeared as the cult leader.
) that constantly falls for the various hare-brained schemes of his friend Pepe. His catchphrase is "I'm looking for Pepe."
, Aunt Linda is Amy Poehler's fictitious, unfriendly aunt who gives almost entirely negative reviews of the latest films. But instead of allocating the films a star rating or thumbs up, she reviews each film with her own catchphrases, such as "Whaaat?" or "Oh, brother!" For example, when reviewing Ocean's Thirteen
she gave it "13 "Ghaas!" and a "Puhhhleez!"."
Her reason for disliking the film is often due to her own misunderstandings, such as when she thought Happy Feet
was supposed to be a live action film, or when she thought Ocean's Thirteen
was going to be the thirteenth film in the series.
Oddly, she usually ends her sketch by praising a film that you wouldn't expect her to like, such as when she praised Saw III
and was asked by Amy Poehler "you went to see Saw?" and Aunt Linda responded, "See it! I liked it so much I kidnapped Tobin Bell
and forced him to play a game with me!".
and Bill Hader
, originally appeared as the Gay Guys from Jersey, a homosexual couple introduced to Weekend Update when the State of New Jersey legalized civil unions. They embodied many stereotypes of New Jersey residents, similar to those on The Sopranos
(including hinting about Mafia connections and activities), and wore matching track suits and large gold medallions. They acted like good friends, sprinkling their conversations with reminders that they are homosexuals. In a later episode Hader and Armisen appeared as Gay Guys From Connecticut, a snobbish wealthy couple who enjoy tennis and yachting. In a later episode, they appeared as Two guys in the Army, commenting on life in the army and its Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. They refused to comment on their homosexuality and instead made comments involving lots of double entendre
.
, is a fictive television studio executive and member of the AMPTP. He appeared on Weekend Update on November 3, 2007 to comment on the impending 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
. Although this was the last live SNL to be broadcast until the strike was over (the next new episode was on February 23, 2008), Armisen resurrected the Trevanti character independent of NBC, in order to parody the studio response to the strike. For example, in one short video posted on YouTube
several weeks later (November 19, 2007) Trevanti harassed picketing writers, encouraging scabs (or strikebreaker
s). In a second video posted on YouTube (December 6, 2007), Trevanti appeared to explain the 'groundbreaking' nature of the AMPTM's proposed new economic partnership with the Writers Guild of America
. Trevanti concludes each commentary with a message to the writers: "I hope you get ass cancer and die!"
. Claiming to be a political comedian, he takes the top headlines from New York
newspapers and offers his own "skewed view" of them. However, he never actually manages to say anything satirical or clever, often simply shouting "C'mon!" or "No!" and sometimes "Who asked?!" When confronted with his lack of humorous material, he will try to defend himself, but will get only about a dozen or so words into each thought when he will go off on a tangent, resulting in his argument going nowhere. His first appearance was in Season 33 of Saturday Night Live
. On a live episode of WTF with Marc Maron
, Armisen revealed that Fehn was partially inspired by Maron, David Cross
, and himself.
. Grimes suffers from extreme stage fright, causing her to appear visibly nervous and talk in long, fast-paced sentences; she often uses the phrase "just kidding" to punctuate her run-on sentences. In her first appearance she talked in small portions and laughed nervously throughout them, but now it has shifted into very long parts.
opposite band played by Will Forte
and Jason Sudeikis
. They sing songs that sound exactly the same as Bon Jovi songs, except all of the important words in the song are the opposite of the real lyrics. In some cases, they don't even sing Bon Jovi songs, like in their third appearance when they sang the opposite of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)" by Beyoncé, and turned it into what would be "All the Married Dudes (Pin a Brooch on it).
, is a Black comedian signed by Def Jam France, but ironically speaks perfect English and whose act consists of Americanized urban quips and zings. The punchline of these zings incorporate French words or references. Once accomplishing the zing, he shouts "Zut Alors!", stands up, and grooves to a hip-hop beat, waits three seconds and gives the cut-off hand signal (swift hand movement across the neck). The music stops sharply on his cue, he sits back down, and shouts "Incroyable!" His attire consists of various outfits, but the only stereotypical French items appearing in all of his appearances is a beret
and a scarf
. Jean K. Jean is occasionally introduced as being from Paris
but according to one segment he claims to be from Marseille
.
) is the show's city correspondent, and has appeared on Update five times in Seasons 35 and 36 (he also made one appearance outside of Update). Stefon is asked to give suggestions for family-friendly New York, but always begins his remarks with "New York's hottest club is..." and then gives a list of all the outrageous things to be found at the club, such as midgets dressed in weird costumes and the answer to a one-word question. Stefon's attire is stereotypically homosexual, though when Snooki (portrayed by Bobby Moynihan
) proposed sex, he claimed he had a girlfriend. Stefon has a tendency to put his hands over his face, which was originally cover for when Hader broke character.
) is Weekend Update's secondhand news correspondent. His info is always inaccurate due to his sources such as "Danny at the deli" or "My cousin, 'Fat Vanessa'"; the errors usually involve misheard or misinterpreted information, such as interpreting royal-wedding gossip about Duchess of York
Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson
as being about Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas
. During his appearances he is always looking furtively around the studio, which is always noticed by Seth Meyers. When Seth points out Anthony is wrong, Crispino says "OKAY! Okay!", and moves on to another subject.
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
has been a platform for Saturday Night Live characters
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches
See also: Listed chronologically, Listed by cast member, Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000s-A:-B:-C:-D:-E:-F:-G:-H:-I:-J:-K:-L:-M:-N:-O:-P:-Q to R:-S:-T:-U to V:-W:-X to Z:...
to grow and gain popularity ever since Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
used it to create Emily Litella and Roseanne Roseannadanna
Roseanne Roseannadanna
"Roseanne Roseannadanna" was one of several recurring characters created by Gilda Radner who appeared in the Weekend Update segments of the early seasons of the NBC comedy television show, Saturday Night Live. Like Radner's earlier character, Emily Litella, Roseanne was brought in to give editorial...
. Many cast members have used Update as the primary vehicle for a certain character. Don Novello
Don Novello
Don Novello is an American writer, film director, producer, actor, singer, and comedian. Novello is best known for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live, from 1977 until 1980, and then 1985 until 1986, often as the character "Father Guido Sarducci". Novello has appeared as "Sarducci" on many...
was featured almost exclusively on the news segment as his breakout character, Father Guido Sarducci
Father Guido Sarducci
Father Guido Sarducci is a fictional character made famous by American comedian Don Novello. Sarducci, a chain-smoking priest with tinted eyeglasses, works in the United States as gossip columnist and rock critic for the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano .-Background:Novello...
, and Tim Kazurinsky
Tim Kazurinsky
Timothy J. Kazurinsky is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in the Police Academy films...
, in the face of Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
's overshadowing popularity, created characters almost exclusively for Update. Before becoming an anchor on Update, Colin Quinn
Colin Quinn
Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian and writer best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, as the sidekick/announcer of MTV's late 1980s gameshow Remote Control and as host of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central from 2002–2004.-Early years:Quinn was...
used the segment as his main sounding board as well.
Significant characters who appeared chiefly on Weekend Update are listed here in chronological order of their first appearance on the show. Each character's write-up is followed by a list of episodes in which they appeared. The episodes also denote who the SNL news anchor was at the time (if there is no anchor listed, it was the same as the previous listing). Some Update characters don't appear here because they fit better into one of the other categories listed below.
Character lists: Alphabetical
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches
See also: Listed chronologically, Listed by cast member, Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000s-A:-B:-C:-D:-E:-F:-G:-H:-I:-J:-K:-L:-M:-N:-O:-P:-Q to R:-S:-T:-U to V:-W:-X to Z:...
and Chronological
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically)
* See also Listed Alphabetically, Listed by cast member, Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000sListed dates indicate the first appearance of the character or sketch.-1975–1976:...
Character categories:
- TV show sketchesSaturday Night Live TV show sketchesSaturday Night Live has long mocked the television medium with many fake commercials and parodies of TV shows themselves. Another of the show's frequently used styles of recurring sketches has been the talk show format...
- Animal sketchesSaturday Night Live animal sketchesThis list includes write-ups for animal-themed recurring sketches that appeared on Saturday Night Live. The sketches are listed chronologically.Character lists: Alphabetical and ChronologicalCharacter articles:*TV show sketches...
- Musical sketchesSaturday Night Live musical sketchesSaturday Night Live has featured many recurring characters that appear in sketches with a musical theme. In addition there are characters listed here who predominantly featured music, but may not have exclusively featured it....
Emily Litella
Emily Litella was an elderly woman with a hearing problem played by Gilda RadnerGilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
in the late 1970s. She would frequently rant about topics about which she had misread or misheard, such as "Violins on Television," "Canker Research," "Endangered Feces," or "Presidential Erections." (To satisfy the censors at the time, Litella was made to explicitly state that she was referring to erecting statues of presidents.) Her catchphrase was "Never mind!", said after she was informed of her mistake.
Garth & Kat
Garth & Kat are two musicians who are notorious for forgetting they are supposed to perform on Weekend Update. Played by Fred Armisen and Kristin WiigRoseanne Roseannadanna
Roseanne Roseannadanna was another character played by Gilda RadnerGilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
, as a commentator on Weekend Update from 1977 to 1980. She was a brash New Yorker with a thick Brooklyn accent who would read a letter asking a series of questions, almost always by "Richard Feder of Fort Lee, New Jersey" (Fort Lee being the site of an NBC studio). While answering the questions, she would go off on a disgusting tangent—usually relating a story of seeing a celebrity doing something disgusting, or a mundane topic, such as relating a story of a hair she found on a bar of soap—and have to be halted by anchor Jane Curtin
Jane Curtin
Jane Therese Curtin is an American actress and comedienne. She is commonly referred to as Queen of the Deadpan.First coming to prominence as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1975, she went on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series on the 1980s...
.
Lester Crackfield
Played by Al FrankenAl Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
, Lester represented (as correspondent Laraine Newman
Laraine Newman
Laraine Newman is an American comedienne, actress, and writer, and was part of the original Saturday Night Live cast.-Personal life:...
put it) "the plight of the modern coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
miner". He appeared only twice.
Father Guido Sarducci
Father Guido Sarducci was a chain-smoking priest with tinted eyeglasses played by Don NovelloDon Novello
Don Novello is an American writer, film director, producer, actor, singer, and comedian. Novello is best known for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live, from 1977 until 1980, and then 1985 until 1986, often as the character "Father Guido Sarducci". Novello has appeared as "Sarducci" on many...
in the 1970s who worked as a gossip columnist and rock critic for L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
, a Vatican newspaper.
He appeared on a number of TV shows, albums, and cartoons outside of Saturday Night Live, and also made newspaper headlines when he visited Vatican City wearing his full outfit and taking photos. Novello was arrested and charged with "impersonating a priest", but the charges were later dropped. The character first appeared in the 1970s on The Danny Finkleman
Danny Finkleman
Danny Finkleman is a Canadian journalist and radio host, best known for his work on CBC Radio. He was host of Finkleman's 45s from 1985 until 2005, when he retired from CBC....
Show on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
.
Chico Escuela
Chico Escuela (translation: "Kid School"), played by Garrett MorrisGarrett Morris
Garrett Gonzalez Morris is an American comedian and actor from New Orleans. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980.-Early life and career:...
, was the Weekend Update sports correspondent. A retired Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
ballplayer with limited command of the English language, he wrote the tell-all book Bad Stuff 'Bout the Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(sample: "Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
- he once borrow Chico's soap and no give it back"). In spring training of 1979, Chico's unsuccessful comeback attempt was documented on several Update segments. The character was first introduced in a St. Mickey's Knights of Columbus sketch, but subsequently Escuela appeared solely on Update.
Typically he would be introduced by Jane Curtin, thus compelling him to say, "Thank you, Hane!" Soon would follow his standard catchphrase: "Beisbol been bery, bery good to me!" Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
, at the peak of his stardom in the late 1990s, would sometimes repeat that line as a joke, to the media, albeit in his true-to-life strong Hispanic accent.
Big Vic Ricker
Ricker, portrayed by Harry ShearerHarry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
, succeeded Chico Escuela as Weekend Update's sports commentator. He was prone to speaking very fast and in a gruff voice.
Dr. Jack Badofsky
Dr. Jack Badofsky was played by Tim KazurinskyTim Kazurinsky
Timothy J. Kazurinsky is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in the Police Academy films...
in a series of appearances on SNL Newsbreak or Saturday Night News (the monikers for Weekend Update during the Ebersol
Dick Ebersol
Duncan "Dick" Ebersol is an American television executive and a senior adviser for . He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large scale television events such as the Olympic Games and National Football League broadcasts....
years). The doctor would inform the audience about different strains of diseases like influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
or rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
, and each strain would be a rhyming pun (i.e. "Should you be bitten by an ownerless dog, that’s Straybies, and a foaming French poodle can give you Qu’est-ce Que-C’estbies"). Badofsky stuttered in a timid, wavering tone, suggesting the sort of "ultra uptight" and extremely introverted character he was supposed to be, when thrust into the spotlight. There is, indeed, a real Jack Badofsky. He collaborated
with Kazurinsky in writing the sketches and—as a nod to Badofsky—Kazurinsky named the character after him.. At the time, Badofsky headed up
Smith, Badofsky & Raffel, a Chicago ad agency known for Badofsky's humorous radio commercials. Badofsky also has written many essays and humor for newspapers and magazines as well a material performed on the stage and TV.
Siobhan Cahill
Cahill, played by Mary GrossMary Gross
Mary Gross is an American comedian and actress, perhaps best known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985. Her credits also include minor roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch...
, commented on the Irish-American news. Though she was a recurring character, she appeared on "Saturday Night News" only once. During the 1991-92 season, SNL would have featured players by the names of Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill
Beth Cahill
Beth Cahill is an American television actress who is best known for having been a featured cast member on Saturday Night Live during the 1991–1992 season. She was also a writer for some episodes...
.
Patti Lynn Hunnsacker
Patti Lynn Hunnsacker was Saturday Night News's teenage correspondent who complained about matters concerning adolescents, such as proms and dates. She was played by Julia Louis-DreyfusJulia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
.
Dwight MacNamara
He was a narrator for educational films played by Gary KroegerGary Kroeger
Gary Kroeger is an American actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985.Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Kroeger attended Northern University High School and graduated from Northwestern University in 1981. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during Lorne Michaels' hiatus...
. At times, he would imitate the warbly sound of an incorrectly threaded film projector.
Worthington Clotman
An NBC censor played by Tim KazurinskyTim Kazurinsky
Timothy J. Kazurinsky is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in the Police Academy films...
. He was an uptight gentleman who wore a bow-tie and glasses. The character was based on the head NBC censor at the time, Bill Clotworthy.
Wayne Huevos
Huevos was a suave albeit smarmy Latin-American businessman played by Tim KazurinskyTim Kazurinsky
Timothy J. Kazurinsky is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in the Police Academy films...
. He often appeared on "Saturday Night News" with ideas to clean up New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Lew Goldman
Goldman was a stereotypical elderly Jewish man played by Billy CrystalBilly Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
. He was prone to commenting on his disrespectful family while doing various commentaries. He also coughed and cleared his throat frequently, due to an apparent excess of phlegm. One of his most memorable insults was: "I have coughed up things that were more interesting than you!"
Buddy Young, Jr.
Buddy Young, Jr. was a Las VegasLas Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
lounge comedian played by Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
. This is a rare example of a little known character spinning off into a feature film. Although Buddy Young, Jr. appeared only four times on SNL, he was the principal character in the 1992 film, Mr. Saturday Night
Mr. Saturday Night
Mr. Saturday Night is a 1992 film that marks the directorial debut of its star, Billy Crystal.It focuses on the rise and fall of Buddy Young Jr., a fictional stand-up comedian. Crystal produced and co-wrote the screenplay with the writing duo Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz...
.
Nathan Thurm
This was a character created by Martin ShortMartin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
. A shady lawyer, Thurm was a chain-smoker (often letting his cigarette burn to the point of becoming mostly ashes), quite paranoid, and constantly in denial about his paranoia. "I'm not being defensive. You're the one who's being defensive." When questioned, his response often included, "It's so funny to me that you would think..." He would also look into the camera and express his puzzlement at the questioner by asking, "Is it me, or is it him? It's him, right?" Other times, he would deny an accusation, then immediately reverse his position when the accuser reaffirmed the statement. "No, it isn't!" ("Yes it is.") "I know that! Why wouldn't I know that? I'm well aware of that!"
Perhaps the best known appearance of Thurm was in a 1984
1984 in television
This article is a list of television-related events in 1984.-Events:*January 9 – Wendy's "Fluffy Bun" ad first airs, which propels Clara Peller and her "Where's the beef?" catchphrase to national prominence....
SNL sketch that was a send-up of 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
. Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
played Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
, accusing Thurm of being involved in corporate corruption. Thurm of course denied everything and nervously tried to turn the tables on Wallace.
Thurm was later reprised on Martin Short's short-lived talk show in 1999-2000.
Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar
The Pathological Liar is a character created and portrayed by Jon LovitzJon Lovitz
Jonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
, often appearing on Weekend Update segments to share his farcical views. The character's name was Tommy Flanagan (icon, , not to be confused with the jazz pianist
Tommy Flanagan
Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
), and he would tell outrageous whoppers in an effort to make himself seem important (such as his claim that he invented Rock and Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
). One recurring lie was claiming he was married to Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild is an American actress. She achieved prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s with continuing roles in several television series, in which she usually conveyed a glamorous image. Fairchild has also performed in live theater and played guest roles in television comedies...
, and thus had seen her naked, "more than once." His devious look, hand rubbing and nervous speech made it clear he was making up lies, one after the other, on the spot. After a particularly outrageous lie he would often add the catchphrase: "Yeahhh! That's the ticket!"
One of his biggest lies, however, would in fact work to his great advantage. During the cold opening when Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall
Jerry Faye Hall is an American model and actress, also known for her long-term relationship with Mick Jagger, with whom she had four children.-Early life:...
hosted, Flanagan claimed to be an old friend of her then-boyfriend Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
; when Jagger himself entered moments later, he shocked her by revealing that the two were longtime friends, and had actually spent the previous weekend together (when she had no idea of his whereabouts) on a fishing trip - as he and Hall get up to leave, Jagger tells Flanagan "I owe you for this one" before opening the show.
Frenchie
Frenchie would appear on "Weekend Update" during Dennis Miller's tenure. Jon Lovitz portrayed Frenchie dressed in stereotypical French clothes and would speak in a stereotypical French accent. When Frenchie would finish a statement on something he would add "Did I mention I'm French? ... I'm Frenchie!"Mr. Subliminal
Played by Kevin NealonKevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon is an American actor and comedian, best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1995, acting in several of the Happy Madison films, for playing Doug Wilson on the Showtime series Weeds, and providing the voice of the title character, Glenn Martin on Glenn Martin,...
, he was originally an advertising executive (named Phil Maloney) who used subliminal messages to influence people. His appearances on Update utilized the subliminal technique (i.e. saying things rapidly and under his breath, in between sentences) to reveal what he is really thinking. For example, in an editorial on the 1994 caning
Caning in Singapore
Caning is a widely used form of legal corporal punishment in Singapore. It can be divided into several contexts: judicial, military, school, reformatory/prison, and domestic/private....
of Michael Fay
Michael P. Fay
Michael Peter Fay is an American who briefly shot to international notoriety when he was sentenced to caning in Singapore as an 18-year-old in 1994 for theft and vandalism...
, he stated that:
"...the boy admitted to spray painting cars but he's only eighteen and young people often do stupid and impulsive things they later regret Shannen DohertyShannen DohertyShannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
. I happen to think [pause] that everyone's entitled to one mistake Euro DisneyDisneyland Resort ParisDisneyland Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The complex is located from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part within the commune of Chessy, Seine-et-Marne....
. And I'm not saying there aren't [pause] those who I'd love to see get a good flogging UrkelSteve UrkelSteven Quincy Urkel, generally known as Steve Urkel or simply Urkel, is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White...
, it's just that [pause] I'm afraid we've become so insensitive that we've learned to accept the idea of a man's beating in public Pee Wee Herman."
A Grumpy Old Man
Portrayed by Dana CarveyDana Carvey
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
, he was an embittered archetypical grandfather figure with white hair, glasses, and a sour sneer. He would usually appear as a commentator complaining about the state of the world, mainly in regard to many modern conveniences. His complaints always included differences between today and "his day" ("In my day, we didn't have safety standards for toys. We got rusty nails and big bags of broken glass! And that's the way it was, and we liked it! We loved it!" or, "In my day we didn't have condoms; you just took a rabbit-skin, wrapped it around your privates, and tied it on with a bungee cord
Bungee cord
A bungee cord , also known as a shock cord, is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath...
! And we used the same one, over and over again! And that's how it was, and you liked it! You loved it!").
Annoying Man
Portrayed by Jon LovitzJon Lovitz
Jonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
, he spoke in a high-pitched nasal voice and did annoying things in front of Weekend Updates Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, such as chewing with his mouth open, or scratching a fork across a slate chalkboard. These sketches often ended with Lovitz saying something in a calm, cultured, refined tone, i.e., "You don't have to yell," or "I love you."
Queen Shenequa
Queen Shenequa, played by Ellen CleghorneEllen Cleghorne
Ellen Cleghorne is an American actress and comedian, best known for being a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991 to 1995...
, was an Afrocentric social critic who dressed in African garb, observed Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African-American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift giving...
, and made commentaries on race. She had a somewhat disdainful persona, such as when she observed about Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
: "'Black or White'? If it doesn’t matter, then why are you so white?", or when she commented that Kwanzaa "is a Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
word which means 'Santa don’t come to my house'".
Jan Brady
The middle sister from The Brady BunchThe Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, she was portrayed by Melanie Hutsell
Melanie Hutsell
Melanie Hutsell is an American comedic actress best known for her tenure on Saturday Night Live.Hutsell was born in Maryville, Tennessee. She began her career starring in a Chicago stage production, The Real Live Brady Bunch in 1990...
. She would usually begin a commentary on a subject, which devolved into a comparison to something that happened on one of the Brady Bunch episodes and her frustration with her siblings who get more attention. Her catchphrase was "Marcia, Marcia, MARCIA!", referring to her older sister, as well as a catchphrase from the popular TV series.
Cajun Man
Adam SandlerAdam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
portrayed a man from Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
country in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
who dressed like Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn (character)
Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is a fictional character created by Mark Twain, who first appeared in the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and is the protagonist and narrator of its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He is 12 or 13 years old during the former and a year older at the time of the latter...
and spoke in a heavily exaggerated Cajun French
Cajun French
Cajun French is a variety or dialects of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern and southwestern parishes....
dialect. When interviewed he would simply respond with one or two word answers, all ending in the "-tion" suffix, or similar sound. For example, when asked where his girlfriend is, he would answer "long vacation
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
" and then being asked how he occupies his time, would answer "masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
." The character is essentially a send-up of TV chef Justin Wilson
Justin Wilson (chef)
Justin E. Wilson was a southern American chef and humorist known for his brand of Cajun cuisine-inspired cooking and humor. He was a self-styled "raconteur" and a staunch political conservative....
who specialized in Cajun cuisine
Cajun cuisine
Cajun cuisine is the style of cooking named for the French-speaking Acadian or "Cajun" immigrants deported by the British from Acadia in Canada to the Acadiana region of Louisiana, USA. It is what could be called a rustic cuisine — locally available ingredients predominate, and preparation...
, and would frequently enunciate the second syllable in the word "onion".
Later, Sandler would tweak the character and give him a full length movie in The Waterboy
The Waterboy
The Waterboy is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Frank Coraci. It stars Adam Sandler alongside Henry Winkler, Kathy Bates, Jerry Reed, and Fairuza Balk. Lynn Swann, Lawrence Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Cowher, Paul Wight, and Rob Schneider have cameos...
.
Opera Man
Adam SandlerAdam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
portraying a stereotypical opera singer, singing news stories in a faux-foreign language (to which the words appeared in subtitles).
A few of his well-known verses include:
- "Amy FisherAmy FisherAmy Elizabeth Fisher is an American woman who became known as "the Long Island Lolita" by the media in 1992, when, at the age of 17, she shot and severely wounded Mary Jo Buttafuoco, the wife of her lover Joey Buttafuoco...
, ButtafuocoJoey ButtafuocoJoseph A. "Joey" Buttafuoco is an auto body shop owner from the USA, notable for his affair with Amy Fisher , who subsequently shot Joey's wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco , in the face.-Incident:...
,
El-knock-oh, el-shoot-oh,
In Jail-oh, no bail-oh,
Senora, you're a whore-ah!"
- "Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
sexiest,
People wrote-oh,
Operaman say,
Recount the vote-oh!" (A picture of People magazine appears onscreen with the cover caption: Operaman: Sexiest Man Alive)
- "Tom HanksTom HanksThomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
-o, nominato,
second time-o, you're-a great-o!
Next year vacacion, go to France-o,
Give someone else a freakin' chance-oh!
(A movie poster of Billy MadisonBilly MadisonBilly Madison is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Tamra Davis and starring Adam Sandler, in the title role, Bradley Whitford, Bridgette Wilson, Norm Macdonald and Darren McGavin. The film was written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, and produced by Universal Studios. It made over $25.5 million...
appears.)
The earlier appearances of Opera Man featured him singing a higher quantity of accurate Italian lyrics, though the subtitles showed the lyrics rather than an English translation. Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz
Jonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
showed up in one episode to play his older brother just in from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Opera Man also appeared in his own sketch one time where it was done up like a genuine opera, and titled "One Match Short of the Jackpot". Phil Hartman narrates, explaining to the audience that Opera Man has just filled up his car at a gas station and included a New Hampshire Lottery
New Hampshire Lottery
Begun in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery is the oldest US mainland-based lottery. New Hampshire's games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, and numerous scratch tickets.New Hampshire is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association , which it joined in 1995...
scratch ticket with his purchase. Opera Man gets more excited as every box he scratches off reveal a million dollar prize, until the last one mismatches and he dejectedly says he must continue his job as a security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
for Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
.
Opera Man also performed at the 2001 Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
.
Hank Fielding
Hank Fielding was a commentator played by Robert SmigelRobert Smigel
Robert Smigel is an American actor, humorist, comedian and writer known for his Saturday Night Live "TV Funhouse" cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.-Early life:...
who provided the "Moron's Perspective". He appeared to be an average commentator, but his speech was indicative that he was extremely slow, and that he clearly had a difficulty discerning fantasy from reality. In one appearance, he commented on President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's State of the Union Address
State of the Union Address
The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities.The practice arises...
, complaining that his overly long speech pre-empted other shows like Jake and the Fat Man, making actor William Conrad
William Conrad
William Conrad was an American actor, producer and director whose career spanned five decades in radio, film and television....
wait nervously backstage as the President "rambled on". His appearance was supplemented by an extremely slow scrawling of his signature across the screen.
Bennett Brauer
Bennett Brauer was played by Chris FarleyChris Farley
Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley was an American comedian and actor. Farley was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre and cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995....
. In each appearance, Brauer provided commentary for Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon is an American actor and comedian, best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1995, acting in several of the Happy Madison films, for playing Doug Wilson on the Showtime series Weeds, and providing the voice of the title character, Glenn Martin on Glenn Martin,...
's Weekend Update, vividly describing his poor hygiene, his lack of social grace, and his anger towards the viewers for preferring other photogenic
Photogenic
A subject is photogenic if appearing aesthetically or physically attractive or appealing in photographs. Photogenic drawing, coined by William Fox Talbot, also describes the earliest method for recording camera images....
commentators to him. Brauer would make regular use of air quotes
Air quotes
Air quotes, also called finger quotes or Ersatz quotes are virtual quotation marks formed in the air with one's fingers when speaking. This is typically done with hands held shoulder-width apart and at the eye level of the speaker, with the index and middle fingers on each hand flexing at the...
to emphasize every point he made. For example:
Maybe I'm not "the norm". I'm not "camera friendly". I don't "wear clothes that fit me". I'm not a "heartbreaker". I haven't "had sex with a woman"; I don't know "how that works". I guess I don't "fall in line". I'm not "hygenic". I don't "wipe properly". I lack "style". I have no "charisma" or "self esteem". I don't "own a toothbrush" or "let my scabs heal". I can't "reach all the parts of my body". When I sleep, I "sweat profusely".
In one instance, Brauer was made to fly (via cables), although a technical glitch delayed the ascent, thereby creating one of SNL's most famous blooper
Blooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
s. As Kevin Nealon tries to get the cables untangled, Brauer exclaims, "I have a weight problem! Can't they lift me?" Brauer is then lifted high above a cheering audience in a manner akin to Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
. Kevin Nealon then continues the Weekend Update and the closing music is playing when a loud crash is heard. The cable has broken and a disheveled Bennett emerges from the counter; which has been damaged by his fall.
The British Fops
The British Fops, or Lucien Callow (Mark McKinneyMark McKinney
Mark Douglas Brown McKinney is a Canadian comedian and actor, best known for his work in the sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. Following the run of their television series and feature film , he went on to star in Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 1997...
) and Fagan (David Koechner
David Koechner
David Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
) appeared in several episodes during the SNL 1995-1996 seasons. The characters first appeared on Weekend Update as the presidents of the Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
fanclub, but later appeared in several other sketches, namely monologues. The Fops would appear in late Restoration period clothing, and used a silly take on the period's language, mannerisms, and culture, not sparing the subsequent perversion also known for the time.
Joe Blow
Joe Blow was played by Colin QuinnColin Quinn
Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian and writer best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, as the sidekick/announcer of MTV's late 1980s gameshow Remote Control and as host of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central from 2002–2004.-Early years:Quinn was...
. A blue collar worker by trade, Blow came onto Weekend Update as a New York public service to deliver local news from Brooklyn, New York. Most of his "news" included family problems and neighborhood gossip. Joe Blow regularly concluded his commentary by asking anchor Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
if he would join him for "a beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
", which Macdonald (who clearly did not want to socialize with him) would avoid by making up an excuse, or putting it off until a later date.
Lenny the Lion
Visiting from the Bronx ZooBronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
, Lenny the Lion (Colin Quinn
Colin Quinn
Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian and writer best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, as the sidekick/announcer of MTV's late 1980s gameshow Remote Control and as host of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central from 2002–2004.-Early years:Quinn was...
in a lion suit) would come onto Weekend Update to talk about the plight of the animals, all of which had parallel problems to real life issues going on in The Bronx. Lenny would always end his rant with the line "Fur is murder".
Gary Macdonald
Gary Macdonald was the fictitious younger brother of anchor Norm MacdonaldNorm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
. Played by David Koechner
David Koechner
David Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
, he was supposed to be the funnier of the two Macdonald brothers, but would be overcome by fear and freeze on camera and end nearly everything he said with "no". Because of this, his commentary consisted of choppy, nervously delivered lines such as, "Hey, Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
. Hey, how does that song go, '(Dude) Looks Like A Lady,' no."
Cinder Calhoun
Portrayed by Ana GasteyerAna Gasteyer
Ana Kristina Gasteyer is an American actress of stage, film, and television. She is best known for her comedic roles when she was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002.-Early life:...
, Calhoun was an activist, feminist singer who played at the Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
festival. In one episode, she is introduced as the warm-up act for the festival. Ultra-politically correct
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
, she would go out of her way to pronounce ethnic-named cities in their native dialect and would frequently dedicate her songs to activist causes. On a Christmas episode she sang a song called "Christmas Chainsaw Massacre", referring to the "senseless cutting down of innocent trees for our twisted holiday pleasure". She also performed the anti-Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
song "Basted in Blood" in a duet with Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, referencing in her introduction as being inspired by Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
's criticism of Butterball
Butterball
Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally — specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and...
Turkey for having a 1-800 number for Turkey recipes. She professed her love for Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
in a song entitled "Adonis in Blue Jeans" when he hosted the show.
Dominican Lou
Dominican Lou, played by Tracy MorganTracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan is an American comedian who is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and currently known for playing the role of Tracy Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock.-Early life:...
, is the building super at 1901 Burnside Avenue in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. On Weekend Update in 1998 he attempted to sell Colin Quinn the signed 62nd home run ball of his fellow countryman Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
for a million dollars, even though it was later discovered to be a foul ball hit by Gary Gaetti
Gary Gaetti
Gary Joseph Gaetti , nicknamed "G-Man", "Rat", or "Zorn" is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Kansas City Royals , St...
and signed Dominican Lou.
He also did the weather report on Good Morning, Bronx.
Gunner Olsen
Played by Jim BreuerJim Breuer
Jim Breuer is an American stand-up comedian, actor and radio host. He is most noted for his time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and starring in the 1998 cult "stoner comedy" Half Baked, alongside Dave Chappelle....
, Olsen recapped the night's news in the style of a lead singer in a Heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band.
Jacob Silj
Jacob Silj was a Will FerrellWill Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
character who suffered from 'Voice Immodulation Syndrome', a disease which makes him unable to control the volume or inflection of his voice. Jacob begins each segment by reporting on a news item totally unrelated to Voice Immodulation Syndrome, but inevitably gets interrupted by the Weekend Update anchor, who can't stand his loud, relentless monotone. Silj then begins to educate the anchor on Voice Immodulation Syndrome, and describe situations that make the disease particularly unbearable (like praying in church, or soothing a baby to sleep). Depending on which of Silj's segments you believe, the disease affects either 700 or 6 people each year and is apparently caused by a late birth and exposure to gold dust.
Jasper Hahn
Portrayed by Horatio SanzHoratio Sanz
Horatio Sanz is a Chilean-born American actor and comedian best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998-2006. Sanz most recently starred alongside his former SNL castmate Chris Parnell in the Comedy Central series Big Lake.-Early life:Sanz, the youngest of three sons, was born in...
, Jasper Hahn was touted as an illustrator for children's books. During his appearance, he would begin drawing what would initially be perceived as something phallic. Colin Quinn
Colin Quinn
Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian and writer best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, as the sidekick/announcer of MTV's late 1980s gameshow Remote Control and as host of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central from 2002–2004.-Early years:Quinn was...
, and later Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
, would bristle and try to stop him, but the drawing would usually end up as a moose or other animal with a phallic-shaped nose or proboscis.
Comedienne Jeannie Darcy
An uninspired stand up comedienne with a mulletMullet (haircut)
The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back. . The mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s...
played by Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon
Molly Helen Shannon is an American comic actress best known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–2001 and for starring in the films Superstar and Year of the Dog. More recently, she starred in NBC's Kath & Kim from 2008–2009 and on the TBS animated series Neighbors from...
. At the end of each bit, Jeannie Darcy would use the catchphrase: "Don't get me started, don't even get me started."
Gay Hitler
Gay Hitler (Chris KattanChris Kattan
Christopher Lee "Chris" Kattan is an American actor/comedian, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:Kattan was born in Sherman Oaks, California. His father, Kip King, was an actor and voice actor who appeared on the series Reno 911! as Larrie Plum. His mother, Hajnalka E....
) was a character loosely based on a theory described in German historian Lothar Machtan
Lothar Machtan
Lothar Machtan, Ph.D is a German historian, writer, as well as Professor of Modern and Current History at the University of Bremen.-Early life:...
's book The Hidden Hitler
The Hidden Hitler
The Hidden Hitler is the English-language version of the 2001 book Hitlers Geheimnis. Das Doppelleben eines Diktators by German-Jewish professor and historian Dr. Lothar Machtan. The original book was published in Germany by Alexander Fest Verlag, while the English-translated version was published...
, which attempts to prove that Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
was a homosexual. The flamboyant Hitler character was known for the catchphrase "Sprechen sie dick
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
?" Gay Hitler was the author of the fictional autobiography Mein Boyfriend, a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of Hitler's actual autobiography Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
. Gay Hitler also appeared as Speed Skating Hitler, rendering the Sieg Heil salute repeatedly as he skated in place.
A scene in the film Step Brothers
Step Brothers (film)
Step Brothers is a 2008 American slapstick buddy-comedy film directed by Adam McKay, produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller, and stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who originally teamed up in Talladega Nights . The screenplay was written by Ferrell and McKay, from a story written by Ferrell,...
shows fellow SNL cast member Will Ferrel dressed as Nazi asking the antagonist "Sprechen sie dick?".
Drunk Girl
Drunk Girl was played by Jeff RichardsJeff Richards (comedian)
Jeffrey Hanson "Jeff" Richards is an American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. Richards was the first actor to have been a cast member on both Saturday Night Live and MADtv...
between 2001 and 2003. Her eyes are always squinted shut and she has shoulder-length blonde hair, and often a bared midriff.
Drunk Girl tends to do certain things while drunk:
- tells people to "shut up!", whether they have actually said anything or not
- asks people if they want to know something repeatedly, even after they say no, slurring the words more and more as she repeats the phrase. (During the Weekend Update Halftime Special, even though Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
said he wanted to know, she continued to repeat the phrase anyway.) - bursts into tears for no reason
- acts sexually promiscuous; also takes off her bra and/or lets something inappropriate, such as food, fall out of it in later episodes
- falls out of chairs frequently in later episodes
Fericito
Fericito is a character from Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
played by Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
. A Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n nightclub comedian, he premiered in the October 5, 2002 episode in Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
. He has appeared on SNL seven times so far, most notably on ¡Show Biz Grande Explosion!, a sketch vehicle launched to feature his character. Prior to this, he appeared on an episode of Late World with Zach
Late World with Zach
Late World with Zach was a television show on VH1 during the spring of 2002, starring a young, beard-less Zach Galifianakis ....
.
Tim Calhoun
Tim "Boo" Calhoun (Will ForteWill Forte
Orville Willis Forte IV, better known as Will Forte , is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2002–2010 and for starring in the SNL spin-off film MacGruber.-Early life:Forte was born in Alameda County, California, the son of...
) has made eleven appearances between 2002 and 2008, ten of which were on Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
. Calhoun is a soft-spoken political candidate with slicked back hair, a slight Southern drawl, and many unconventional ideas. Calhoun is also a career criminal with many arrests, which he often inadvertently mentions. Constantly nervous and fidgety, Calhoun reads his speeches from index cards which he stacks neatly on the table as he finishes each one. Usually, the final word in his statements are on a separate card. His voice is exaggeratedly slow and deliberate, hardly rising above a whisper. When talking, he moves his extended index and middle fingers up and down.
An Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, he first appeared on Weekend Update under the equal-time rule
Equal-time rule
The equal-time rule specifies that U.S. radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it...
when John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
hosted.
The Kelly Brothers
Gunther Kelly (Fred ArmisenFred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
) and his brother Patrick (Will Forte
Will Forte
Orville Willis Forte IV, better known as Will Forte , is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2002–2010 and for starring in the SNL spin-off film MacGruber.-Early life:Forte was born in Alameda County, California, the son of...
) appear as experts from an impressive institution or think-tank. Called on to discuss or debate complex topics (such as tax codes or immigration), they tell the audience that they will present their information in a song, so the nuances can be better absorbed. However, their songs, while snappy and possessing humorous two-part harmonies in counterpoint, are repetitive, usually contain nothing but nonsense lyrics, and impart no information whatsoever.
On the May 6, 2006 show with Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, the Kelly brothers appeared on Weekend Update for a debate which turned out to be them simply singing, "Ya." Patrick sang in an exaggeratedly high tone.
Billy Smith
Billy Smith (played by Fred ArmisenFred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
) is a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
comedian who has performed stand-up
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
on three Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
episodes and made a small appearance in Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
's monologue in 2004. His jokes usually begin as fairly average stand-up jokes (why did the chicken cross the road?), but his punchlines suddenly veer into obscure references to Native American culture. This of course results only in confusion and nervous titters from the audience, at which point Billy Smith patiently explains the cultural reference so that the audience can understand the joke.
Two Guys from a Religious Cult
The Two Guys from a Religious Cult, played by David SpadeDavid Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
and Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
, would appear with the intention of presenting a standard news item, such as a weather report or a restaurant review. Dressed in matching sunglasses and leather vests, they start their reports with incoherent religious rants. Anchorman Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
would try to steer them back onto the subject they had come on to report, with limited success. Chris Farley
Chris Farley
Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley was an American comedian and actor. Farley was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre and cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995....
once appeared as the cult leader.
Jorge Rodriguez
An alleged expert on world events, Jorge Rodriguez is an aloof halfwit (played by Horatio SanzHoratio Sanz
Horatio Sanz is a Chilean-born American actor and comedian best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998-2006. Sanz most recently starred alongside his former SNL castmate Chris Parnell in the Comedy Central series Big Lake.-Early life:Sanz, the youngest of three sons, was born in...
) that constantly falls for the various hare-brained schemes of his friend Pepe. His catchphrase is "I'm looking for Pepe."
Aunt Linda
Portrayed by Kristen WiigKristen Wiig
Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American film and television actress who currently appears as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Wiig was a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, and has appeared in several films and television series, including Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Flight of...
, Aunt Linda is Amy Poehler's fictitious, unfriendly aunt who gives almost entirely negative reviews of the latest films. But instead of allocating the films a star rating or thumbs up, she reviews each film with her own catchphrases, such as "Whaaat?" or "Oh, brother!" For example, when reviewing Ocean's Thirteen
Ocean's Thirteen
Ocean's Thirteen is a 2007 crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an ensemble cast. It is the third and final film in the Soderbergh series following the 2004 sequel Ocean's Twelve and the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven, which itself was a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film Ocean's 11...
she gave it "13 "Ghaas!" and a "Puhhhleez!"."
Her reason for disliking the film is often due to her own misunderstandings, such as when she thought Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Happy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
was supposed to be a live action film, or when she thought Ocean's Thirteen
Ocean's Thirteen
Ocean's Thirteen is a 2007 crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an ensemble cast. It is the third and final film in the Soderbergh series following the 2004 sequel Ocean's Twelve and the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven, which itself was a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film Ocean's 11...
was going to be the thirteenth film in the series.
Oddly, she usually ends her sketch by praising a film that you wouldn't expect her to like, such as when she praised Saw III
Saw III
Saw III is a 2006 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell and story by James Wan and Whannell. Wan and Whannell directed and wrote Saw and Bousman wrote and directed Saw II. It is the third film in the seven-part Saw film series and stars...
and was asked by Amy Poehler "you went to see Saw?" and Aunt Linda responded, "See it! I liked it so much I kidnapped Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
and forced him to play a game with me!".
Two Gay Guys from...
Two Gay Guys from... portrayed by Fred ArmisenFred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
and Bill Hader
Bill Hader
William "Bill" Hader is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is best known for his work as a creative consultant on the hit show South Park and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his supporting roles in comedy films such as Superbad, Hot Rod, Tropic Thunder,...
, originally appeared as the Gay Guys from Jersey, a homosexual couple introduced to Weekend Update when the State of New Jersey legalized civil unions. They embodied many stereotypes of New Jersey residents, similar to those on The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
(including hinting about Mafia connections and activities), and wore matching track suits and large gold medallions. They acted like good friends, sprinkling their conversations with reminders that they are homosexuals. In a later episode Hader and Armisen appeared as Gay Guys From Connecticut, a snobbish wealthy couple who enjoy tennis and yachting. In a later episode, they appeared as Two guys in the Army, commenting on life in the army and its Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. They refused to comment on their homosexuality and instead made comments involving lots of double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
.
Roger A. Trevanti
Roger A. Trevanti, played by Fred ArmisenFred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
, is a fictive television studio executive and member of the AMPTP. He appeared on Weekend Update on November 3, 2007 to comment on the impending 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
. Although this was the last live SNL to be broadcast until the strike was over (the next new episode was on February 23, 2008), Armisen resurrected the Trevanti character independent of NBC, in order to parody the studio response to the strike. For example, in one short video posted on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
several weeks later (November 19, 2007) Trevanti harassed picketing writers, encouraging scabs (or strikebreaker
Strikebreaker
A strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep the organisation running...
s). In a second video posted on YouTube (December 6, 2007), Trevanti appeared to explain the 'groundbreaking' nature of the AMPTM's proposed new economic partnership with the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
. Trevanti concludes each commentary with a message to the writers: "I hope you get ass cancer and die!"
Nicholas Fehn
Nicholas Fehn is a recurring character on Weekend Update, played by Fred ArmisenFred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
. Claiming to be a political comedian, he takes the top headlines from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
newspapers and offers his own "skewed view" of them. However, he never actually manages to say anything satirical or clever, often simply shouting "C'mon!" or "No!" and sometimes "Who asked?!" When confronted with his lack of humorous material, he will try to defend himself, but will get only about a dozen or so words into each thought when he will go off on a tangent, resulting in his argument going nowhere. His first appearance was in Season 33 of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. On a live episode of WTF with Marc Maron
WTF with Marc Maron
WTF with Marc Maron is a twice-weekly podcast hosted by stand up comedian Marc Maron. The show launched in September 2009. The program primarily consists of interviews with comedians and comedy writers, as well as others in the entertainment and radio communities...
, Armisen revealed that Fehn was partially inspired by Maron, David Cross
David Cross
David Cross is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian perhaps best known for his work on HBO's sketch comedy series Mr...
, and himself.
Judy Grimes
Judy Grimes is Weekend Update's Travel Expert, played by Kristen WiigKristen Wiig
Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American film and television actress who currently appears as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Wiig was a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, and has appeared in several films and television series, including Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Flight of...
. Grimes suffers from extreme stage fright, causing her to appear visibly nervous and talk in long, fast-paced sentences; she often uses the phrase "just kidding" to punctuate her run-on sentences. In her first appearance she talked in small portions and laughed nervously throughout them, but now it has shifted into very long parts.
Jon Bovi
Jon Bovi is a Bon JoviBon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
opposite band played by Will Forte
Will Forte
Orville Willis Forte IV, better known as Will Forte , is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and writer best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2002–2010 and for starring in the SNL spin-off film MacGruber.-Early life:Forte was born in Alameda County, California, the son of...
and Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis
Daniel Jason Sudeikis is an American actor and comedian currently starring as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:Sudeikis was born Daniel Jason Sudeikis in Fairfax, Virginia, the son of Kathryn , a travel agent who was president of the American Society of Travel Agents, and Dan...
. They sing songs that sound exactly the same as Bon Jovi songs, except all of the important words in the song are the opposite of the real lyrics. In some cases, they don't even sing Bon Jovi songs, like in their third appearance when they sang the opposite of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)" by Beyoncé, and turned it into what would be "All the Married Dudes (Pin a Brooch on it).
Jean K. Jean, French Def Jam Comedian
Jean K. Jean, portrayed by Kenan ThompsonKenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work as a cast member of NBC's long-running sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live...
, is a Black comedian signed by Def Jam France, but ironically speaks perfect English and whose act consists of Americanized urban quips and zings. The punchline of these zings incorporate French words or references. Once accomplishing the zing, he shouts "Zut Alors!", stands up, and grooves to a hip-hop beat, waits three seconds and gives the cut-off hand signal (swift hand movement across the neck). The music stops sharply on his cue, he sits back down, and shouts "Incroyable!" His attire consists of various outfits, but the only stereotypical French items appearing in all of his appearances is a beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
and a scarf
Scarf
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...
. Jean K. Jean is occasionally introduced as being from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
but according to one segment he claims to be from Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
Stefon
Stefon (Bill HaderBill Hader
William "Bill" Hader is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is best known for his work as a creative consultant on the hit show South Park and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his supporting roles in comedy films such as Superbad, Hot Rod, Tropic Thunder,...
) is the show's city correspondent, and has appeared on Update five times in Seasons 35 and 36 (he also made one appearance outside of Update). Stefon is asked to give suggestions for family-friendly New York, but always begins his remarks with "New York's hottest club is..." and then gives a list of all the outrageous things to be found at the club, such as midgets dressed in weird costumes and the answer to a one-word question. Stefon's attire is stereotypically homosexual, though when Snooki (portrayed by Bobby Moynihan
Bobby Moynihan
Robert M. "Bobby" Moynihan, Jr. is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
) proposed sex, he claimed he had a girlfriend. Stefon has a tendency to put his hands over his face, which was originally cover for when Hader broke character.
Anthony Crispino
Anthony Crispino (Bobby MoynihanBobby Moynihan
Robert M. "Bobby" Moynihan, Jr. is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
) is Weekend Update's secondhand news correspondent. His info is always inaccurate due to his sources such as "Danny at the deli" or "My cousin, 'Fat Vanessa'"; the errors usually involve misheard or misinterpreted information, such as interpreting royal-wedding gossip about Duchess of York
Duchess of York
Duchess of York is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of York. The title is gained with marriage alone and is forfeited upon divorce. Four of the twelve Dukes of York did not marry or had already assumed the throne prior to marriage, therefore there have only ever been eleven...
Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
as being about Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
. During his appearances he is always looking furtively around the studio, which is always noticed by Seth Meyers. When Seth points out Anthony is wrong, Crispino says "OKAY! Okay!", and moves on to another subject.
See also
- Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed alphabetically)Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketchesSee also: Listed chronologically, Listed by cast member, Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000s-A:-B:-C:-D:-E:-F:-G:-H:-I:-J:-K:-L:-M:-N:-O:-P:-Q to R:-S:-T:-U to V:-W:-X to Z:...
- Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically)Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically)* See also Listed Alphabetically, Listed by cast member, Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000sListed dates indicate the first appearance of the character or sketch.-1975–1976:...
- Saturday Night Live TV show sketchesSaturday Night Live TV show sketchesSaturday Night Live has long mocked the television medium with many fake commercials and parodies of TV shows themselves. Another of the show's frequently used styles of recurring sketches has been the talk show format...
- Short-lived recurring characters on Saturday Night Live
- Saturday Night Live commercialSaturday Night Live commercialThe following is a partial list of Saturday Night Live commercial parodies. On Saturday Night Live , a parody advertisement is commonly shown after the host's opening monologue. Fast food, beer, feminine hygiene products, toys, and automobiles have been frequent targets.The commercial parodies have...
s